Waxing nostalgic about the best vacation ever…

Just a few weeks ago over Memorial Day weekend, we spent five days visiting my dearest friend Amy in Des Moines. This was a significant trip for two reasons: one, because it was a homecoming of sorts for me; and two, because it was the first official goodbye that we would be making in the weeks to come. Thus, it was both exhilarating and bittersweet.

In what seems like another lifetime a million years ago, I spent a little over five years in Des Moines. The circumstances that brought me there were not the best, and so I was generally miserable and always had one foot out the door. Despite all of that, I still managed to put roots down and made the most of my time living there. Enough years had now passed that I was eager to return – not only to revisit my old stomping grounds, but to show my husband and daughter this previously ignored part of my personal history.

Our trip got off to a little bit of a rocky start. What was supposed to be a five and a half hour trip took almost nine, as we powered through construction, holiday traffic (it was the Friday before Memorial Day), and had to make frequent stops for Nina. Why on earth didn’t we just wait until Saturday morning, you ask? I have just five words for you: The Des Moines Farmers’ Market. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the best market I’ve ever been to – looking forward to it was what got me through every week when I lived there. It has consistently been rated one of the top ten best markets nationwide for as long as I can remember, and it deserves every accolade and more.

It was cold and drizzling, but that didn’t deter Amy and I. We loaded a bleary-eyed Mario and crazy hyper Nina into the car, and we were off. Even with the rain, the market was crowded. I made a bee line for the first falafel vendor I could find; my Saturday breakfast ritual satisfied, it was time to get down to business. Amy and I both love to cook, so we immediately conferred on a tentative menu for the next five days as we drifted from one stand to the next. The market absolutely hummed with activity, and Mario and Nina were enjoying themselves. We ducked into Java Joe’s, my second favorite thing that I missed from my days in Des Moines. Forget Starbucks – this place is what I silently measure all coffee shops against.

After the obligatory market and coffee house stops, we allowed the rest of the week to just unfold at it’s own pace. After all, we were really there to visit Amy and her husband, and to say goodbye. Every street walked upon, every meal shared, led to memories and laughter. We made all our favorites: quinoa tabbouleh, grilled asparagus, pasta with homemade sauce that bubbled for hours on the stove.

Nina finally had a real yard to run around in, and we set her loose.

She also finally got to spend some time with her beloved bot bots, Ben and Coco.

I don’t know how much they enjoyed the mud stew she made in their water dish, but they humored her nonetheless.

And my husband finally realized that magical, intangible hold that Des Moines has over me. I know most of it has to do with the fact that Amy lives there, but Des Moines really is a great place to live. I have no idea where we may end up if or when we ever leave North Carolina, but I know that if Des Moines is an option, this time I would be there of my own accord. We miss you, Amy!